Extension spotlamp



June 8, 1948. H. R. M CLELLAN ET AL 2,443,009

EXTENSION SPOTLAMP Filed March 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1%r/5/ ZZ M ck/kw? Goee ZWcf/d/ Patented June 8, 1948 EXTENSION SPOTLAMP,

Harry R. McClellan and George T. McClellan, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 13, 1945, Serial No. 582,534

2 Claims.

This invention relates to spot lamps for vehicles or the like, and more particularly, to an adjustable spot lamp adapted to be disengaged from its normal position on the vehicle and to be moved to other desired positions.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adjustable spot lamp structure for a vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spot lamp which is of simple construction and which may be readily disengaged from its normal mounting for employment as a trouble lamp or for furnishing desired illumination at other than its normal position on a vehicle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an improved spot lamp in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the spot lamp of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 but somewhat enlarged in scale.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view in cross-section showing the winding reel structure of the spot lamp of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the lamp supporting member employed in the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric circuit for the spot lamp of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a housing of sheet metal or other suitable metal adapted to be rigidly secured to a portion of the vehicle in a position at which the spot lamp is to be located for normal operation. Housing I is generally box-shaped and is provided with side walls 2 and 3, a top wall 4 and a bottom wall 5, as well as front and rear walls which are tapered to provide a streamlined appearance.

Rotatably mounted in top wall 4 is a short, generally tubular support member 6 provided with a lower cylindrical section 1 of reduced diameter which rotatively fits a circular opening in top wall 4, tubular member 6 bearing on said top wall at the shoulder formed between section 1 and the main body portion of said tubular member. The bottom end of tubular member 2 6 is formed with a reduced downwardly flaring portion 8. f

Rigidly secured to section I is a bevel gear 9 which meshes with a bevel gear I!) carried on a hollow horizontal shaft ll journaled in a laterally projecting sleeve [2 appropriately rigidly secured to side wall 2. Sleeve [2 carries a calibrated stationary annular member l3 rigidly secured to said sleeve at the free end thereof as by a set screw 14. A rounded annular knob member I5 is rigidly secured to the outwardly projecting end of hollow shaft ll adjacent member 13. An indicating pointer may be marked on knob l5 which will show the position of adjustment of shaft II' with respect to the calibration markings (not shown) on member l3 for indicating the rotated position of support member 6.

' The upper end of support member 6 is reduced and squared as shown at It, to fit into a square sleeve I! provided at the bottom of a spot lamp shell l8 whereby said shell may be supported on member 6. A plurality of spring clips I9 are pivotally secured to member 6 and are formed with hooked free ends '20 for insertion into appropriately flanged openings 2| in the bottom of shell I8 for resiliently and detachably clamping said shell in position on member 6. Spring clips [9 may be readily disengaged from openings 2|. to permit easy removal of shell 18 from its seat on member 6.

The top of shell I8 is provided with a handle 22 provided with an auxiliary hook 23 pivotally secured to said handle and normally seated in an appropriate recess formed therein so as to be substantially flush with the surface of the handle. Hook 23 may be readily pulled out of its recess when it is desired to hang the spot lamp from a suitable support by said hook.

Shell It contains an appropriately mounted lamp 24 received in a conventional socket connected to the respective conductors 25 and 26 which are sheathed in a jacket 21.

Rigidly mounted in the lower portion of housing I between side walls 2 and 3 is a shaft 28. Encircling shaft 28 is a coiled spring 29, one end of which is secured to shaft 28 and the other end of which is secured to the sleeve portion 30 of a hollow metal reel 3| which is supported by said spring 29 in concentric relation to shaft 28. Reel 3| is provided with a first circular flange 32 and a second circular flange 33. Circular flange 32 carries rigidly secured thereto an annular insulating block 34 provided with an external annular metal contact ring 35 embedded therein. A stationary insulating block 36 is secured to side wall 2 provided with a metal contact brush member 31 arranged to make continuous contact with ring 35 duration rotation of reel 3|. Brush member 31 is connected to an insulated conductor 38 which in turn extends through shaft II to an appropriate switch 39 and thence to the hot" terminal of the vehicle battery. Insulated conductor 38 is secured to the inner wall surface of housing by appropriate securing clips.

Flange 33 of reel 3| carries rigidly secured thereto a gear 40 which meshes with a gear 4| rig.- idly mounted on a shaft 42 journaled between side walls 2 and 3 in parallel relation to reel 3| and located substantially under flaring member 8. Mounted on shaft 42 is a guide sleeve member 63. Shaft 42 is formed with a ,pair of reversely running continuously connected helical grooves which cooperate with an appropriate lug member formed on the interior bore of guide sleeve 43 to regulate the rate of travel of guide sleeve 43 to the right or left on shaft 42.

Conductor wires 25 and 26 encased injacket 2'! pass through an eye lug 44 formed onguide sleeve 43 and are wound on reel 3| under the tension of coiled spring 29. The arrangement of .the turns is regulated by guide sleeve 43 .so that when the end of a row is reached, .guide sleeve 43 will be automatically reversed in its .direction of movement on shaft 6?. to guide the wires to form a new row.

\Vire 26 is connected at its reel engaging end to ring 35 and wire 25 is grounded .to circular flange 32, which is itself grounded .to the frame of the vehicle by shaft 28 and housing I- A circuit is therefore provided for energizing lamp 24 when switch 39 is closed which comprises conductor 38, brush 3?, ring .35 and conductorlfi on the hot"side, and conductor.25 which is grounded through reel 3| on the cold side.

When it is desired to move the spotlamp to a desired location, spring clips H] are disengaged from shell l8 and the shell is lifted oil its seat by handle 22. The connecting wires for the lamp will unwind from reel 3| as the lamp is moved away from its original position. .Said wires will automatically-rewind in compact arrangement on reel 3| as the lamp is returned to its normal location and is reseated on member 5.

In normal position, the directionof the lamp beam may be accurately regulated by knob in conjunction with calibrated member 16.

While a specific embodiment of a demountable spot lamp for a vehicle has been disclosedin the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit .of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. lherefore 'it is intended that no limitation be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a demountable spot lamp for a motor vehicle, including a housing carried by said vehicle, an electric extension cord extensibly carried within said housing, and an electric lamp operativelyconnected to said cord outwardly .of said housing; the improvementcomprising a'lamp shell enclosing said electric lamp, said shell being formed with a non-circular opening through a lower portion thereof, an upwardly-extending non-circular tubular sleeve fixed to said shell concentrically-disposed about said opening inwardly of said shell, said shell being formed with at least one additional aperture through a lower portion thereof in laterally-spaced relation to said opening, said shell including an upwardly-directed lug inwardly thereof and adjacent said aperture, a tubular bearing journaled in said housing, said :oord extending through said bearing, said bearing including .a non-circular and reduced upper end complementary to said sleeve and slidably received therein, at least one spring clip, means mounting said clip on said bearing outwardly of said housing, said clip including a hook, and said hook being 'insertable through said aperture in said shell .and :engageable with said lug to detachably secure said shell on said bearing.

2. In a demountable spot lamp for a motor vehicle, including a housing carried by said vehicle, an electric extension cord extensibly vcarried within :said housing, and an electric lamp operatively connected to said cord outwardly of said housing; the improvement comprising a lamp shell enclosing said electric lamp, said shell being formed with a non-circular opening through a lower portion .thereof, an upwardly-extending non-circular tubular sleeve fixed to said shell concentrically disposed ,about said opening inwardly 1of said shell, a tubular bearing journaled in-said housi g, said cord extending through said bearing, said bearing including a non-circular and reduced upper end complementary to said sleeve and slidably received therein, a plurality of spring clips, means pivotally connecting said clips to .said bearing outwardly :of said housing, said shell being formed with a plurality of apertures through a flower-portion thereof, :said aperturesIin surrounding. and laterally-spaced relation to said non-circular opening and in vertical alignment with said clips, upwardly-directed flanges formed in said shell, there being .a flange adjacent each aperture, and each of said clips including a hook .insertahle through one of :said apertures and detachably engageable with said adjacent flange to .cletachably connect said shell to said bearing.

HARRY R. McCLELL'AN. GEORGE T. MGCLELLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .:Name Date .1;498,534 Anderson-ct a1.. June.24,,1924 2,133,551 .Logan Oct.18, 1938 ,FGREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,131 France Mar. 21, 1905 (1st addition 'to No. 337,941) 

